Dolphin Stories

Upon graduation, two 2013 Le Moyne alumni answered the call to serve by joining the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC). These men and women will have the opportunity to work full-time for justice and peace while promoting JVC’s four core values: simple living, community, social justice, and spirituality.

Alum Nyandeng Kuat Menuer is currently placed at the Cabrini Center at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, in Houston, Texas. She is a legal caseworker, focused on helping refugees and asylees gain their legal status in the U.S.
“I love my job because I am making a difference in many people’s lives,” said Menuer. “The diverse environment and the excitement of meeting new people give me the energy to come to work every day.”

Menuer believes that her experience at Le Moyne was influential in guiding her to JVC.
“I learned a lot about service through my precious time at Le Moyne. I was able to participate in a few life-changing service trips and I enjoyed every moment of them. I was able to find myself, my strengths, and what brings me joy through these trips. The most rewarding part of volunteering with JVC is being able to take what I learned from Le Moyne and apply it to the real world,” she said.

Another alum, Kathryn Piazza, is serving at The Family Tree in Baltimore, Md., which is a child abuse prevention agency. She works as the community outreach and volunteer coordinator; helping with parenting classes, parenting support groups, and serving as a responder on a parenting helpline.

While at Le Moyne, Piazza participated in several service trips and volunteer opportunities.
“On one particular trip, I got the opportunity to work at a JVC placement site for a week and visit with the JV community in Portland, Maine,” said Piazza. “I really fell in love with every aspect of it. Remembering those experiences and recognizing the value that JVC places on them in their mission is what drew me to the program. Being in JVC is an opportunity to practice all of those things I learned at Le Moyne all at once while serving others.”

After completing their service time, both women plan to go on to graduate school to earn Master’s degrees; Menuer in psychology and Piazza in chemistry. For them, JVC is just the beginning of a lifetime devoted to making a difference in the lives of others.

“Everyday experiences as a Jesuit Volunteer are so valuable,” Piazza believes. “I can't say enough how much I've come to appreciate everything in my day-to-day life.”